EDMC set to roll out various social welfare schemes

The East Delhi Municipal Corporation is all set to offer social welfare schemes, including employment for transgender people and medical insurance for cycle rickshaw drivers in the next financial year.

In the budget speech, Leader of the House Ram Narayan Dubey said kiosks would be built in 2,100 municipal parks. These kiosks could be used to run small shops, including photocopy shops, bakeries and tailor shops. Fifty per cent would be reserved for women, 10 per cent for differently-abled people and 2 per cent for the transgender. “This is the first time that we are making reservations for the transgender. Our aim is to bring them into the mainstream of society by giving them a chance to earn their livelihood,” he said. The cash-strapped EDMC, which has been unable to pay pensions for over two years, will be starting a medical insurance scheme for cycle rickshaw drivers and women street vendors.  

“We will extend the benefit of the Centre’s health insurance scheme to these people. We will involve advertising agencies, who will pay for the insurance premiums and put advertisements on the back of rickshaws to generate revenue,” Dubey added. Meanwhile, to increase revenue, the EDMC has increased the tax on cinema halls, which could impact ticket prices. Earlier, the ‘show tax’ was Rs.10 per show. East Delhi cinemas would now have to pay 5 per cent of the total amount collected through ticket sales for each show. “The show tax increase will help us come out of our current financial crunch. It will be a minimal raise. Hence, it is unlikely to pinch the general public,” said Dubey.